Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 86:14-17
Ps 86:14-17
14 The arrogant are attacking me, O God; a band of ruthless men seeks my life--men without regard for you. 15 But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. 16 Turn to me and have mercy on me; grant your strength to your servant and save the son of your maidservant. 17 Give me a sign of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for you, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me.
1 Tim 1:15-17
15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
There are few things in this life that we can really depend upon. Paul says that we can count on this: God loves us and no matter what we have done or how bad we may have been, the grace of God in Jesus Christ is able to save us. There have been few people who have been as openly hostile toward Jesus and toward his followers as was Saul of Tarsus. Yet, he believed on Jesus when confronted with the evidence of his divinity and then had his sins washed away in baptism. From that time on, he preached Jesus as the only way to eternal life.
But he also trusted God on a daily basis. When he was in prison for his preaching, he wrote that we should rejoice in the Lord always. He said he could do all things through Jesus Christ who gave him strength. He knew that whatever he faced could be handled by God. This did not mean that of all his problems or his former temptations disappeared. It meant that God gave him the strength to deal with them and to overcome. With God’s grace he could deal with each day.
We can have this same assurance today because we trust and serve the same God that was with him. Who can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus? Not anything in this world! Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Heavenly Father, I am so thankful for the salvation you offer in Jesus. Thank you for making it available to everyone; even to me. Help me use your grace as a motivation to serve you more and to allow your will to reign in my life. Give me wisdom to understand your word and apply it. Give me strength and self-control to be all you want me to be. I am so mindful of friends who are suffering from disease, from trials and from the loss of loved ones. Please be with them and give them the peace only you can give. I pray in the name of Jesus my Lord.
Robert
